John McRae

Members of the Auckland Deaf Society and friends attend the annual picnic at Orewa Beach in March 1969.

The Auckland Deaf Society Basketball Club celebrate their ‘Golden’ Anniversary, their 50th anniversary, at the ADS Balmoral clubrooms where people share their memories of being involved in the basketball club.

Deaf people get together at John and Verna McRae’s place before heading to Orewa, Auckland for the Annual ADS Picnic.

The 1953 New New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention is held in Christchurch, with sports, fun, and day trips.

The Auckland Deaf Society Netball team celebrates their 25th Jubilee in April, 2000.

Footage of the World Deaf Games in Köln, of New Zealanders in action. Two New Zealand athletes won medals at the games.

Members of the Auckland Deaf community welcome friends and competitors from nationwide for the annual Deaf Sports Convention in Auckland 1952, and take a trip into Auckland City.

The New Zealand team attending the 10th World Deaf Games in Washington, USA, 1965.

The Auckland Deaf Netball Club runs a social event to celebrate its first anniversary in 1976.

The NZ team returns from the XIV World Games for the Deaf, Köln, Germany 1981.

New Zealand team goes to XIV World Games for the Deaf in Köln, Germany in 1981.

Verna McRae is filmed at her home in Napier alongside her husband, John. Verna talks entertainingly about her life growing up on a Manawatu farm, going to Sumner School for the Deaf, work, travelling, and married life.

An informal annual rugby game between teams of Deaf men, married and single, which was played on one of Kelston Deaf Education Centre’s fields.

New Zealand athletes stopover at Los Angeles on the way to the World Games for the Deaf in Köln, and make the most of the trip with a visit to Disneyland!

A group of Deaf friends are treated to a boat trip in the Hauraki Gulf on a boat called “Rambler”, owned by Laurie Schischka.

The Christchurch team travel to Palmerston North for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention on Labour Weekend, 1976.

Deaf members of the Auckland Adult Deaf Society clear the Balmoral Road property before construction of the main hall.

Auckland Deaf Adult Society’s annual picnic takes place north of Orewa beach.

John McRae is filmed at his home in Napier where he lived with his wife Verna. John explains some highlights from his life story including his experiences at school, travelling the world for Deaf sports, and his involvement in the Deaf community. The video includes his commentary of various photos and objects in their house.

Footage by Sue Penman, of members of the Deaf community and their families attending the centenary celebrations at Sumner School for the Deaf, and taking a tour of the school.

Auckland Deaf community hold their annual picnic at Duders Beach, 1951.

A group of Deaf people make a trip to the Helensville Hot Pools 1951.

A group of men from the ADS basketball club are seen chatting outside the Auckland Deaf Society Clubrooms.

Kathleen French, Auckland’s ‘Deaf Grandmother’ and a life member of Auckland Deaf Society celebrates her 90th birthday party at the Balmoral clubroom on 24 May 2003 with approximately 140 people attending.

A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951.